Joseph Cozza Salon To Host Union Square Fashion Show

When Blake McCall acquired Joseph Cozza Salon, the massive Union Square beauty parlor that’s been serving loyal San Franciscans since 1995, he decided to take the Maiden Lane destination to the next level. “We knew we wanted to be more than a salon,” McCall recently told Haute Living from his large office at the boutique. “We wanted to find ways to give back to the community, and our general manager, Tina, had a dream of doing a fashion show on Maiden Lane.” However, fire permit restrictions would not allow a fashion show on the side street, so McCall and his team had to look elsewhere for the location of their charity fashion show. He came across an old photo from the 1950s of a runway presentation in Union Square and set out to recreate the same sort of event.

Blake McCall

Photo Credit: Joseph Cozza Salon

Next week McCall’s efforts will come to fruition at Joseph Cozza Salon’s first annual Union Square fashion show, A City in Color. The event takes place on Thursday, May 16 at 5 p.m and benefits Blue Heart International and the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. The show will feature 40 looks from local designer J’Amy Tarr, who specializes in jackets and coats.

A jacket by J’Amy Tarr

Photo Credit: Joseph Cozza Salon

“She’s mainly outerwear, but being that we’re in San Francisco, it’s something you can wear year-round,” McCall explains. “We thought for our first year we wanted to work with someone locally that is all San Francisco—born and raised in the region. Plus, the clothes are made here in the Bay Area.” The salon team members will do hair and makeup. McCall is coy with exact details but promises that the looks will be inventive and inspirational. “We’re keeping the overall look of what we’re going to be doing with the hair and make up a little bit hush-hush, but the idea is San Francisco’s a diverse place, and we want to celebrate diversity,” he explains. “We want to showcase a lot of fun and bright colors. It’s going to be a pretty amazing setup up on the stage in Union Square plaza.” There will be a LED light installation, and McCall is encouraging guests to wear colorful cocktail attire. The evening will also include live entertainment by America’s Got Talent finalist, Kechi, and electric violinist, Spags.

The salon

There will be 300 seats at the show, but McCall is expecting it to sell out, so be sure to get your ticket soon. While the event will be fantastical and over the top, he emphasizes that it supports two tremendously important causes. Blue Heart International is a Sacramento-based nonprofit that McCall and his wife founded to fight sex trafficking. He hopes to raise funds to support five local victims of sex trafficking attend beauty school. The proceeds will also support Joseph Cozza Salon’s exclusive wig program. Every year, the salon creates custom wigs for teenagers who are going through chemotherapy at the Benioff children’s hospital. Both are moving causes that reason enough to enjoy a night of fashion on the town.